Maximize Recovery Success with Auslogics File Recovery SettingsLosing files is stressful — whether it’s a single work document, a treasured photo, or a collection of personal records. Auslogics File Recovery is a popular tool for restoring accidentally deleted files from hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and memory cards. This guide explains how to configure Auslogics File Recovery to maximize your chances of successful recovery, including pre-recovery preparation, key settings to use, practical scanning techniques, and post-recovery best practices.
Before you begin: quick principles that increase success
- Stop using the affected drive immediately. Continued writes can overwrite deleted data and make recovery impossible.
- Work from a different drive. Install and run Auslogics File Recovery from another internal disk or an external drive to avoid modifying the target volume.
- Aim for a read-only approach on the target. If possible, use software or hardware that mounts the drive read-only.
- Know your file signatures and formats. If you’re looking for specific file types (e.g., DOCX, JPG, MP4), note them — targeting those types speeds scanning and improves results.
Installation and initial setup
- Download Auslogics File Recovery only from the official site or a trusted source to avoid bundled software.
- Install the program on a different drive than the one that lost files. If that’s not possible, use a portable installation on a USB stick.
- Before running a scan, close other disk-intensive applications to reduce system activity.
Scanning modes and when to use them
Auslogics File Recovery offers at least two main scanning approaches: Quick Scan and Deep Scan (may be labeled differently depending on version). Choose based on how recently the files were deleted and the drive’s condition.
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Quick Scan
- Use when files were deleted very recently and the file system is intact.
- Faster and less resource-intensive; checks file system records (MFT on NTFS, directory entries) for recoverable items.
- Best first step — if it finds the files, recovery is easiest and most complete.
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Deep Scan (Thorough or Raw Scan)
- Use if Quick Scan fails or the drive was formatted, corrupted, or heavily written after deletion.
- Searches raw sectors for known file signatures and reconstructs files without relying on file system metadata.
- Much slower and may produce partial/fragmented results, but often recovers files Quick Scan cannot.
Recommendation: Run Quick Scan first, then Deep Scan if needed. For complex cases (formatted partitions, damaged file system), start with Deep Scan if you suspect metadata is lost.
Targeting file types and folders
- Use the file-type filters (Images, Documents, Videos, Archives, etc.) to narrow results. This reduces scan time and helps prioritize likely matches.
- If you know the original folder path or filename pattern, use the search/filter fields after scanning to quickly locate candidates.
- For photo/video recovery from cameras or memory cards, prioritize media formats (JPG, CR2/NEF, MOV, MP4) and enable camera-specific signatures when available.
Advanced settings — balancing speed vs thoroughness
- Sector range: If Auslogics allows specifying a sector or partition range, limit scans to the partition that contained the files. This speeds scanning and avoids irrelevant data.
- File size thresholds: Exclude very small files if you’re searching for large documents or videos to reduce noise. Conversely, lower thresholds if small files matter.
- Overwrite protection: If available, enable options that avoid writing to the source drive. Always save recovered files to a different disk.
Dealing with SSDs and TRIM
- SSDs implement TRIM, which promptly erases data blocks when files are deleted. If TRIM is active and the SSD has been used since deletion, recovery chances drop significantly.
- If you have a deleted file on an SSD and TRIM is likely active, stop using the drive immediately and attempt recovery from a sector image if possible (see next section). Do not run optimization tools that further write to the SSD.
Create a forensic image — recommended for valuable data
When the lost files are critically important, create a full byte-for-byte image of the affected drive and run recovery on the image. This protects the original drive from further changes and allows repeated attempts without risk.
- Use a disk-imaging tool (e.g., ddrescue on Linux, or Windows imaging tools) to create an image file (.img, .dd).
- Mount the image as a virtual disk in Auslogics (if supported) or attach it as a loop device and scan that image.
- If your drive has bad sectors, use an imaging tool that can skip and map bad areas while preserving readable data.
Interpreting scan results
- File preview: Use built-in previews (images, documents) to verify integrity before recovery. Previews can confirm whether a file is intact or corrupted.
- Fragmentation signs: Recovered files with garbled content or playback errors may be fragmented and incompletely reconstructed. Metadata (timestamps, partial filenames) can indicate partial recovery.
- Multiple versions: Auslogics may show multiple entries for a single recovered file — compare size, date, and preview before saving.
Saving recovered files — do’s and don’ts
- Save recovered files to a different physical drive. Never restore directly onto the source drive.
- Use a destination with ample free space and good reliability; consider an external SSD or a separate internal disk.
- For bulk recovery, maintain the directory structure if offered; otherwise, organize recovered files into clearly labeled folders to avoid confusion.
Post-recovery checks and repairs
- Open recovered documents and media to confirm usability. Small corruptions can often be repaired with file-specific tools:
- Office files: use built-in repair features in Microsoft Office or LibreOffice.
- Images: try reconversion tools (e.g., ImageMagick) or specialized JPEG repair utilities.
- Video files: use ffmpeg to copy or re-index streams:
ffmpeg -i recovered.mp4 -c copy fixed.mp4
- For partially recovered archives (ZIP, RAR), try repair options in WinRAR or 7-Zip.
When to stop and call a professional
- If scans repeatedly fail to locate important files, or recovered files are heavily fragmented and unusable, consider professional data recovery services.
- Also seek professionals when the drive makes unusual noises, is physically damaged, or the data is of high value — attempting DIY fixes can worsen physical damage.
Practical examples / workflows
- Accidental deletion from Windows HDD (recent): Run Auslogics Quick Scan → filter by Documents/Images → preview → recover to external drive.
- Formatted USB drive (no further writes): Run Deep Scan (raw signatures) → locate media/files → recover to different drive.
- Corrupted partition table on external drive: Create disk image with ddrescue → scan image with Auslogics → recover files from image.
Troubleshooting common issues
- No results found: Ensure you scanned the correct partition; try Deep Scan; check that the drive is healthy and readable.
- Program crashes or slow performance: Close other programs, run as administrator, and scan smaller partition ranges.
- Recovered files corrupted: Try alternate scan modes, adjust file-size filters, or scan a forensic image.
Final checklist (quick)
- Stop using the source drive.
- Install/run Auslogics from a different drive.
- Run Quick Scan first; use Deep Scan if needed.
- Filter by file types and known filenames.
- Save recovered files to a separate physical disk.
- Create a forensic image for valuable data.
- Use file-repair tools for partially damaged files.
- Consult professionals for physical damage or failed recovery attempts.
Maximizing recovery success is largely about limiting further writes, choosing the right scan mode, and protecting the original media by working from images or separate drives. Auslogics File Recovery, used with careful settings and the checklist above, can recover many lost files — but always balance DIY attempts with professional help when data is critical.
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